The Late Paleozoic porphyry–epithermal spectrum of the Birgilda–Tomino ore cluster in the South Urals, Russia

The Birgilda–Tomino ore cluster in the East Uralian zone, South Urals, Russia, hosts a variety of Late Paleozoic porphyry copper deposits (Birgilda, Tomino, Kalinovskoe, etc.), high- and low sulfidation epithermal deposits (Bereznyakovskoe, Michurino), and skarn-related base metal mineralization (Biksizak) in carbonate rocks. The deposits are related to quartz diorite and andesite porphyry intrusions of the K–Na calc-alkaline series, associated to a subduction-related volcanic arc. We report microprobe analyses of ore minerals (tetrahedrite–tennantite, sphalerite, Bi tellurides and sulfosalts, Au and Ag tellurides), as well as fluid inclusion data and mineral geothermometry. On the basis of these data we propose that the Birgilda–Tomino ore cluster represents a porphyry–epithermal continuum, with a vertical extent of about 2–3 km, controlled by temperature decreases and fS2 and fTe2 increase from deeper to shallow levels.

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► Porphyry, epithermal, and base-metal deposits of the South Urals are described.
► Bereznyakovskoe, Michurino, Biksizak, and Kalinovskoe deposits are investigated.
► Ore mineralogy and PTX conditions are studied.
► Deposits form a continuum porphyry–epithermal column.
► T decreases and fS2 and fTe2 increase from deeper to shallow levels of the column.